Singapore Maths The Emphasis on Visuals Multi-Step Problems on Fractions
H a r r i s F e d e r a t i o n , L o n d o n O c t o b e r 2 0 1 2
Yeap Ban Har
Marshall Cavendish Institute Singapore
Slides are available at
www.banhar.blogspot.com
Jerome Bruner
• Enactive Representation (Concrete)
• Iconic Representation (Pictorial)
• Symbolic Representation (Abstract)
Reference
http://www.theoryfundamentals.com/bruner.htm
Howard Gardner
Theory of Multiple Intelligences
• Spatial
• Linguistic
• Logical-mathematical
• Bodily-kinesthetic
• Musical
• Interpersonal
• Intrapersonal
• Naturalistic Gardner, 1983
See Ho, S. Y. & Yeap, B. H. (2011). Development of Visualization Skills in Singapore Primary
School Mathematics Textbooks. Paper presented at PME-35 Angkara, Turkey.
See also Yeap, B. H. (2011). The Emphasis of Primary-Level Textbooks in Singapore on
Higher-Order Thinking Skills. Paper presented at International Conference on School
Mathematics Textbooks Shanghai, China.
Primary Mathematics (Third Edition)
Visuals are used to teach
concepts – distributive
property of multiplication
– without using formal
terms.
Primary Mathematics (Third Edition)
emphasis visualization
3 units = 18
1 units = 18 3 = 6
6 x 8 = 48
There were 48 coins at first.
Example 1 Primary 5 Year 6
Mr Chen had some durians for
sale. He sold 24 durians in the
morning. In the afternoon, he sold
7
2of the remainder.
Then, he had of the total number of durians left.
2
1
My Pals Are Here! Maths Primary 5
Example 2 Primary 5 Year 6
24 3 units = 24
1 units = 24 3 = 8
How many durians did Mr Chen had at first?
10 units = 8 x 10 = 80
At first, Mr Chen had 80 durians for sale.
